Merkel said the issue could come up when France takes over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in February. She said Germany would seek consensus at the UN on the issue, including China and Russia, but would be ready to support new sanctions with "a group of like-minded states." She did not elaborate.

Peres echoed her call for tough action on Iran,
calling its government "dangerous, dictatorial and opposed to peace."

The president praised the chancellor for "her extraordinary friendship" with Israel and "her steadfast stance on the Iranian issue."